🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $919 in Irkutsk versus $1,238 in Windhoek.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,444 in Irkutsk versus $2,074 in Windhoek.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,968 in Irkutsk versus $2,910 in Windhoek.
🌍Living in Irkutsk costs roughly 26% less than in Windhoek, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Irkutsk33% lower, Windhoek10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.74₽498
$11.60NAD 188
-50.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.13₽2,529
$62.8NAD 1,014
-53.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.90₽512
$6.38NAD 103
-7.52%
Cappuccino
$2.82₽245
$2.45NAD 39.62
15.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50₽130
$0.89NAD 14.34
68.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₽51.7
$0.93NAD 15.08
-35.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77₽154
$1.96NAD 31.64
-9.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50₽304
$2.28NAD 36.93
53.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28₽111
$1.64NAD 26.59
-21.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₽47.84
$0.90NAD 14.59
-38.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56₽135
$2.10NAD 33.91
-25.71%
Eggs
$1.82₽158
$3.12NAD 50.5
-41.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.95₽1,211
$9.93NAD 161
40.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.23₽541
$6.64NAD 107
-6.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.01₽956
$7.54NAD 122
46.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67₽232
$2.27NAD 36.75
17.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07₽180
$2.00NAD 32.30
3.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67₽231
$1.89NAD 30.49
41.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98₽345
$2.25NAD 36.37
76.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89₽77.3
$2.21NAD 35.80
-59.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70₽61.2
$1.82NAD 29.35
-61.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25₽195
$2.09NAD 33.78
7.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₽62.1
$1.15NAD 18.55
-38.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07₽266
$3.34NAD 54.0
-8.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₽665
$6.93NAD 112
10.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93₽81.2
$1.46NAD 23.59
-36.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45₽213
$1.45NAD 23.50
68.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50₽43.45
$0.78NAD 12.63
-35.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.78₽1,196
$49.94NAD 807
-72.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70₽148
$0.84NAD 13.63
102.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61₽52.7
$0.95NAD 15.42
-35.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₽640
$16.11NAD 260
-54.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80₽69.8
$1.42NAD 22.92
-43.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K₽1.8M
$24.5KNAD 395.4K
-16.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K₽2.7M
$30.3KNAD 489.7K
1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.6₽6,475
$142NAD 2,294
-47.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.36₽552
$28.74NAD 465
-77.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.15₽1,055
$49.03NAD 793
-75.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.17₽3,574
$37.49NAD 606
9.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.21₽1,494
$10.77NAD 174
59.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.66₽491
$5.50NAD 88.9
2.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173₽15.0K
$213NAD 3,445
-18.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,150₽273.5K
$5,564NAD 90.0K
-43.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6₽4,648
$57.1NAD 924
-6.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.24₽3,233
$36.02NAD 582
3.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3₽8,450
$91.6NAD 1,481
6.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0₽6,941
$101NAD 1,629
-20.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$391₽33.9K
$535NAD 8,657
-27.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286₽24.8K
$388NAD 6,275
-26.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$872₽75.7K
$1,182NAD 19.1K
-26.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523₽45.4K
$998NAD 16.1K
-47.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,663₽231.2K
$1,637NAD 26.5K
62.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,627₽141.2K
$615NAD 9,943
164.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$684₽59.4K
$1,029NAD 16.6K
-33.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.33
11.42
121.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Irkutsk: August 31, 2026
Last update for Windhoek: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Irkutsk and $535 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Windhoek pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Irkutsk vs $63.0 in Windhoek. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $231, with Windhoek cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Irkutsk vs Windhoek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Irkutsk wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Windhoek. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irkutsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irkutsk or in Windhoek?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Windhoek. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irkutsk compared to Windhoek?
Rent for a central apartment: $391 in Irkutsk versus $535 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Irkutsk and in Windhoek?
Childcare runs $173 in Irkutsk versus $213 in Windhoek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Irkutsk or in Windhoek?
Shoppers in Windhoek pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irkutsk or in Windhoek?
At $919 in Irkutsk versus $1,238 in Windhoek, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irkutsk but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Irkutsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irkutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.